Jonah: A 5-Day DevotionalSýnishorn

In many places, the Bible describes how the Lord, like a loving parent, brings strong discipline on his wayward children to direct them back to obedience and thus to the good paths in which he wants them to walk (e.g., Prov. 3:11–12; 1 Cor. 11:32; Heb. 12:4–7). This is exactly what happens here. Jonah had been fleeing from the Lord since the story’s beginning (Jonah 1:3), a flight that took him in an increasing spiral downward (cf. comment on 1:3). The Lord disciplines Jonah by propelling him further down this path—to the very bottom of the sea (2:6)! It is as though he says to Jonah, “You want to flee from me? Then let me make very clear where this path will lead!” As a result of such discipline, he brings Jonah to the complete end of his own strength and ability. Jonah comes to his senses and turns back to the Lord, finally “calling out” to him for help (2:2). This is one of the goals of the Lord’s discipline of his children when they disobey: he desires them to turn back to him in obedient faith, walking in his paths and thus in close fellowship with him. 

It is impossible to hear Jonah’s prayer in light of chapter 1 without noting a strong point of irony. There, the pagan sailors were in danger from the sea, and they “called out to the Lord” for help (1:14), and responded to his deliverance with “sacrifice” and “vows” (1:16). Here, we are told Jonah was in danger from the sea, “called out to the Lord” for help (2:2), and responded to his deliverance with “sacrifice” and “vows” (2:9). In other words, the Israelite prophet has finally arrived at the same point to which the pagans have already come! He is not modeling for them what it means to look to the Lord in faith; he is following their model. Once again, this is meant to humble the Israelites who are reading this; the pagans they despise are quicker to realize their need of the Lord and turn to him in worship than the Israelite prophet who ministers in the Lord’s name. This should banish all their spiritual pride. When it comes to sin, all are equal before the Lord in terms of need for mercy, and it is sometimes those who do not know him that realize this need more quickly. Jesus himself emphasizes this in his parable of the Pharisee and the tax collector (Luke 18:9–14). Those who compare themselves to others will always find reasons for pride; those who compare themselves to the Lord will realize their own wickedness, cry out humbly for his mercy and salvation, and then extend this mercy to others. 

Jonah’s own spiritual pride should have been humbled, of course, by the simple fact that he received what he did not deserve: mercy instead of judgment, deliverance instead of death. This should have changed Jonah profoundly. It should change us profoundly. What our sin and rebellion earn is death (Rom. 6:23). What God makes available to us in Jesus is life, an undeserved gift of his mercy and grace (Eph. 2:1–9). This should destroy any spiritual pride we might have. 

As for Jonah, he should now go to the Ninevites, hoping his preaching will turn their hearts back to the Lord, hoping they will somehow realize that the Lord is merciful to those who call out to him for deliverance and salvation. After all, Jonah himself has just experienced this in the most dramatic way. Surely he of all people will now hope that others will have the same experience of mercy and grace.